Established by the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ), the CEnvP Scheme was one of the first programs of its kind globally and has grown to become the leading certifying body for environmental and social practitioners.
This week marks 20 years since the inaugural meeting of the Scheme’s Certification Board.
Since 2005, the Scheme has introduced seven specialist certifications, including the reengineered Climate Change Specialist Certification launched this week. There are currently more than 1,200 certified practitioners and the Scheme is supported by legislation and guidance notes across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
To mark 20 years of certification, the Scheme turned to a few the practitioners who have played a key role in the Scheme over the years for perspectives on its evolution. You’ll also find below a short history of the establishment of the Scheme, along with a timelineof its most significant achievements over the past 20 years.
Nigel MurphyHLMEIANZCEnvP, Foundation Certification Board Chair, 2004-2014
The CEnvP Scheme was built by people with a vision to improve environmental practice and ethics within the profession. It wasn’t an elaborate program with a lot of government funding; it was driven by volunteers, people who cared about the profession. That’s what has driven it and keeps driving it.
It was something that we needed to do and we couldn’t just look around for others to do it. We had to roll up our sleeves and get it done. I’m proud that we did, and that it continues to improve environmental practice. I’d like to acknowledge the work and dedication of my colleagues Alan Chenoweth, Bill Haylock, Barbara Radcliffe, Ian Ackland, Mark Nan Tie, and many others in establishing the Scheme.
The CEnvP Scheme provides solidity for the profession. For example, there is often pressure on environmental practitioners to come up with results that are are favourable to the party they’ve been hired by. Certification gives the practitioner substance to say, well, I can’t change this because it’s against the Code of Ethics and my certification as an environmental practitioner.
I think the profession has improved since the CEnvP Scheme was brought in. As environmental practitioners we are all ultimately working towards good environmental outcomes and so I’m proud that the Scheme has helped to achieve that.’
Hugh Lavery AM FEIANZ, Certified Environmental Practitioner #1 Among those certified at the first meeting of the Certification Board was Dr Hugh Lavery AM, who became the first ever officially Certified Environmental Practitioner.
‘I saw great opportunity and value in having a professional body for environmental practitioners, and within that, certification. Together with the Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, the CEnvP Scheme is the fundamental support system of the Environment Institute.
In the early days of my career, environmental practitioners were quite isolated and spent a lot time out in the field, without a central body. The Scheme and the Institute have played a key role in developing environmental practice in our region.
There is no doubt at all that CEOs of large corporations want good advice about the environment, and increasingly so. As more and more institutions take action to address environmental harm, that badge of peer-reviewed, independent judgment will be essential for practitioners. If they wish to proceed with a professional career, they can’t not do it.’
Maria Pedicini FEIANZ CEnvP, Certification Board Chair, 2024-Current
‘I started out as an environmental practitioner at a time when the notion of certification for our profession was a discussion point, and then witnessed the scheme’s development by passionate environmental practitioners, who wanted a way to ensure confidence in the competence and ethical conduct of practitioners.
I am grateful to those who were vigilant in ensuring the successful establishment of the Certified Environmental Practitioner Scheme – Australia’s first and one of the world’s first. During this anniversary, we should also acknowledge everyone who has played a part (and there many,
Vicki Brady FEIANZ CEnvP, EIANZ President
‘Establishing the CEnvP Scheme is one of the Institute’s most significant achievements. Governments, regulators and employers look to the Scheme to provide assurance that environmental practitioners are suitably qualified and experienced, something that has never been more important.
As a Certified Environmental Practitioner myself, I can highly recommend the Scheme as valuable for individual career advancement and for the betterment of the profession.
I’d like to congratulate all those who have been involved in the Scheme over the past 20 years. I look forward to seeing the Scheme continue to go from strength to strength.’
Establishing the Scheme
In the early 2000s, EIANZ identified a demand for certification of environmental practitioners, stemming from the profession’s growth as well as increasing maturity and specialisation.
A working group was established in 2003 to develop a certification scheme suitable for the diverse environment profession. The group developed a framework based on overseas examples, notably the Canadian certified Environmental Professional (EP) scheme under Eco Canada.
The Scheme was established via EIANZ By-law 16, which gives effect to two important provisions of the International Standard ISO/IEC 17024 (Conformity Assessment – General Requirement for bodies operating certification of persons): that certification shall be open to all who meet the specified criteria, and that decisions of the accrediting authority are independent and free of influence from the sponsoring organisation.
An inaugural Board was appointed by EIANZ, under Nigel Murphy as Chair and seed funding was sought and obtained from the relevant Commonwealth environment Department. In the early days, the Scheme was run out of Nigel’s Melbourne office (Earth Systems).
The first call for applications went out in late 2004 and more than 70 applications were received. At its first meeting on 14 February 2005, the Certification Board endorsed 24 candidates.
Twenty years of certification
2004
EIANZ establishes CEnvP Scheme
14 February 2005
Inaugural Certification Board meeting
2007
Hugh Lavery named inaugural CEnvP of the Year
2010
First full-time Program Manager appointed
2011
Ecology and Impact Assessment Specialist Certifications introduced
